JOHOR BARU: The police are finalising their investigation on the parents of a child who was not given professional medical care for five days after sustaining severe burns on Dec 30.

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the investigation paper would soon be handed over to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) for further action.

ALSO READ: Cops detain Pontian couple for not seeking medical treatment for their badly burned son

"The child's parents, aged 33 and 36, were called up for questioning last Wednesday (Jan 4) and were released on police bail,” he said.

"The victim has been treated by the medical team at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) and is in a stable condition," he said during a press conference at the Johor Police Headquarters, here, on Sunday (Jan 8).

When asked to elaborate on the parents' reasons for not taking their child to the hospital sooner, Comm Kamarul Zaman said that the parents believed that it was enough to give their child medicine from the pharmacy.

"Based on our investigation, the parents thought that the medicine they bought from the pharmacy was adequate to treat their child's wounds," he said.

The couple were arrested on Jan 4.

Pontian OCPD Supt Mohammad Shofee Tayib said they were detained after a report was made by a family member.

The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglecting, abandoning, or exposing a child in a manner likely to cause physical or emotional injury.

If found guilty, an accused can face a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine of not more than RM20,000, or both upon sentencing.